Plant row and bin marker



July 31 1951 I w. c. wn'HRow 2,562,851

PLANT ROW AND BIN MARKER Filed March 11, 1950 I JNVENroR.

f Z WARM/v 6T W/rHRow 1f- BY ATTOR/YL'YS Patented July 31, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLANT `ROW AND BIN MARKER Warren C. Withrow, Denver, Colo.

Application March 11, 1950, Serial No. 149,040

3 Claims.

This invention relates to plant row and bin markers.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a marker which is extremely simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a marker which may be disposed at various elevations, the data card carried thereby being readily visible in al1 positions.

Further objects, advantages, and salient features will become more apparent from a consideration of the description to follow, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the marker;

Figure 2 is an end elevation in the direction of arrow 2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3 3, Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line 4 4, Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a similar section showing `a modified tube securingmeans;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation similar to Figure 1 showing another modified tube securing means;

Figure 7 is a section taken on line 'I 'I, Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a perspective illustrating one manner in which the foregoing markers may be employed.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the marker comprises a block I which may be of wood or other inexpensive material which is apertured from end II to near the other end I2 leaving a wall I3. The central portion is cut away at I4 on about a 45 angle to the back surface I5 of the block, this cut extending into the circular aperture I6. 'I'he aperture is preferably closer to one longitudinal edge of the block than the other to provide a portion II which is apertured at I8 to receive a nail, screw, or other means for securing the block adjacent a seed bed, or the like.

A transparent cylindrical tube I9 of glass, plastic, or other material having an open end 20, and a bottom wall 2l is disposed within aperture I6 and is retained therein by a nail 22 ywhich Wedges the tube laterally in the aperture. In Figures 6 and 7 the securing means is nail 22a extending transversely through suitable apertures in the block. In Figure a cork 23 is illustrated which serves the same purpose as the nails. It will be apparent that any other suitable securing means may be employed so long as it is simple and inexpensive.

Figure 8 illustrates the use of the device in a greenhouse 24. If the seed flats or bins are relatively high such as those shown at 25, the marker may be screwed or nailed to the wall or the like above the bins as shown at 26. In this case the angular cut-out I4 is disposed downwardly so that the side of tube i9 is visible, that is, it is inverted from the position shown in the other gures. If the seed bin is near the iioor the marker may be similarly secured, as at 27, but `with the cut-out portion at the top. Any suitable data card 2S may be retained in the tube.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A plant row and bin marker, comprising, a block having a substantially iiat back, a circular aperture extending from one end of the block to adjacent the other end, to provide a wall adjacent said other end, a transparent cylindrical tube, open at one end and having an end wall at the'other, disposed within said aperture with the open end adjacent said wall, means adjacent said one end extending into the circular aperture for retaining the tube within the block, a data card, or the like, disposed Within the tube, and a cut-out portion of lesser length than the block disposed between the ends thereof extending into the circular opening to render visible a portion of the tube and data card therein.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cut-out portion is disposed at an angle to the back, Iwhereby the data card is visible from a direction at an angle to the back.

3. A device in accordance with claim l wherein said circular aperture is closer to one edge of the block than the other, to provide a wide portion .and a narrow portion therealong, and an aperture through said wider portion for receiving means for securing the block to an object adjacent the plant row or bin. v

WARREN C. WITHROW.

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 528,631 Green Nov. 6, 1894 1,828,896 Hershey Oct. 27, 1931 

